Coupler operating rod



Oct. 31, 1950 v E. P. KINNE 2,528,439

COUPLER OPERATING ROD Filed April 19, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Oct. 31, 1950 Filed April 19, 1944 E. P. KINNE COUPLER OPERATING ROD 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 31, 1950 Edmund P. "Kinne, Alliance, Ohio,assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 'Ill., acorporation ofNew Jersey Application April 19, 1944, Serial No. 531,719

15 Claims.

slack runs in and when the inertia effect of the rotor lock lift leverand the operating rod supported therefrom beneath the coupler headcauses release of the anticreep, permitting raising of the lock with theswinging or the lever. In some cases this condition is aggravated whenthe coupler heads are in a somewhat depressed position so thattheybounce upwardly when the slack runs in. suc movement may be furtheraugmented by the inertia of the handle of the uncoupling rod, causing itto swing upwardly.

The primary object of my invention is to devise an operatingrodarrangement which will prevent such accidental uncouplings as thoseabove-described, my novel arrangement providin at all times positivemeans for retainin the rotarylock liftleliei in its lowermost or nor al7 position. This 1 accom nsh by associating the operating rod with saidlever in such manner as to prevent rotation of the lever without corresponding rotation b the operating rod.

More Specifically, i have provided a form of o eratin rod and supportmeans therefor by which the rod is locked against accidental rotationand latched in such locked position, re ouirin manual positioning of thelatch in order to allow the operating rod to be removed from such lockedposition and permit its rotation for turning of the rotor lock liftlever. At the same time, my novel operating rod is so interconnectedwith said rotor lift lever that maintenance of the rod in its normallocked position likewise maintains the lever in its normal lockedposition.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my novel form of operating rod asnormally attached to one end of a car body and connected to a couplerhead supported therefrom. Figure 1A is an enlarged sectional viewthrough the rotor lever engaging end of the operating rod, the sectionbeing taken substantially in the vertical plane indicated by the line!AIA of Figure 1.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the structure 'shown in Figure 1.Figure 2A 's a view taken through the lugs on the bottom of the couplerhead, looking down upon the rotor lift lever and the end of theoperating rod connected thereto, said view being taken substantially inthe horizontal plane indicated by the line 2A A of Figure 2.

in Figures 1 and. 2, taken from the left as-seen in those figures.

Figure 4 is an end view somewhat similar to that Of Figure 3, but takenapproximatel in the vertical plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 1for a purpose hereinafter more clearly-set forth.

Figure 5 is another end View illustrating the condition of the parts infull knuckle throw-posh tion.

Figure 6 is another end View illustrating the condition of the partsupon release of the handle after knuckle throw or lockset.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary view illustrating the relative rotativepositions of the main portion of the operating rod under certainoperating conditions.

Figure 8 is a view comparable to the upper portion of Figure '4,illustrating one position of the locking latch.

Figures 9, l0 and 11 illustrate in-detail my novel form of connectingmeans for the operating rod handle and the main body of said rod, Figure9 being a side View thereof in its normal operatingposition asillustrated in Figure 3, Figure 10 being a front elevation thereof takenfrom the right as seen in Figure 9, and Figure 11 a top plan View takenfrom the top as seen in Figure 10.

Describing the structure in detail and referring first to the'parts innormal locked position as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, my noveloperating rod is a three-piece structure comprising a main body portion2, a handle 4 therefor, and a retaining cap 6, serving as connectingmeans between said handle and said body portion, said thi-eemicccassembly being illustrated as supported adjacent the handle and from abracket 8 supported as at Ill, ill from the car body, fragmentarilyindicated at l2, said car body also supporting in well known manner thecoupler head It. The main body portion 2 of my novel operating rod mayhave the usual hook end I 6 which may be received in the central openingintermediate the ends of the rotary lock lift lever l8, said lever beingthe standard form used in the present Standard E coupler and having apivotal connection at one end as at 20 (Figure 3) with locking means ofthe coupler and being pivotally supported at its opposite end as at 22from integral trunnion means on the coupler head extending betweenspaced lugs 24, 24 suspended therefrom. The loop end of my noveloperating rod is generally similar to that commonly used except that atthe upper turn of the loop :a luglike extension 26 is formed, said lugbeing well illustrated in Figures 1, 1A and 2A. Figure 1A is a sectionalView through said lug, showing that the -'forward extremity thereof isformed with a camlike portion 28 which may bear as at 30 (Figure 4)against the lock-toggle engaging end of the rotary lock lift lever orrotor adjacent the opening therethrough which accommodates the loop endIt. Theloop end of the rod 2 may also .liearagainst lever as at 33, sothat when 35 the parts are in normal locked position the weight of therod end may be supported on the lifter 8 at the points 32 and 33 (Figure4) with some slight clearance between the bottom of the lifter and theend portion of the loop H6 at 3 I. Engagement at 3! take place, ofcourse, as soon as the rod 2 is moved counterclockwise. Thus the loopend of the rod 2 and the lifter have a three point engagement at 3i], 3!and 33 which substantially prevents relative rotation therebetween.

The handle 4 of the operating rod has a flattened upper end substantiallcircular in side elevation as seen in Figures 3 and 6, and said circularportion may have a central opening within which may be received thetrunnion end 32 of the main body portion 2, said handle 4 being designedto rotate upon said trunnion end within the limits permitted by theabutment of the arm l against the ledges 34 and 356 (Figure 9) atopposite edges of the retaining cap 6. Said retaining cap 6, shown indetail in Figures 9, 10 and 11, is a one-piece structure of caplike formhaving an enlarged cylindrical central portion 33 designed toaccommodate therewithin the round flattened end of the handle &. Theretaining cap 6 may have at one side of the portion 38 a lug 3G, drilledas at 62 to accommodate the end trunnion portion 32 of the rod 2, whichmay extend within the portion 38 for mounting the handle 4. At theopposite side of said portion 38 44 may be drilled as at 48 toaccommodate a rivet 51} (Figures 1 and 2) which may extend through anopening in the end of the rod 2 aligned with the openings 48, t8 andsaid rivet may thus fix said cap for rotation with said rod. At the sametime, the handle 4 may be permitted at the pivot point 49 (Figure 3)limited relative rotation with respect to the rod 2, as clearlyillustrated in Figures and 6.

Fhe bracket 8 may have a web 52 (Figure 8) serving as a base portion bymeans of which said bracket may be fixed to the car body, and projectintherefrom at something less than a right angle may be the vertical web54 having a projecting loop 56 defining in part a keyholelike opening 58in the web 5!, said opening having a circular upper portion convergingdownwardly into a slot 653 having substantially parallel side walls. Thecircular upper portion of said onening 58 is eccentrically positionedwith respect to the slot 66 therebelow so that one margin of the slot 68tangent to said circular portion and a definite slope is formed at theopposite side of the circular portion at 6 E (Fi ure '7) along which thefiat portion 62 of the rod may slide into the slot Gil. The said sidewalls may be spaced anart a distance for convenient accommodation of theflattened portion 62 of the rod 2, said flattened portion having a widthsuitable for accommodation and rotation within the circular upperportion of the opening 58.

When the parts are in the normal locked positions illustrated in Figures1 to 3, the flattened portion 52 of the rod 2 may be held in itslowermost position in the slot 5!! at the bottom of the opening 58 bymeans of the rotating latch 64 which may be pivoted as at 65 (Figure 3),said latch having a weighted lower end with an arcuate edge 68 overlyingthe slot 68 within which the rod 2 may thus be confined when the partsare in locked position, as illustrated in Figure 3. When it is desiredto unlock the parts, it is necessary to remove the flattened portion 62of the rod 2 out of the slot 653. For that purpose the latch 6:3 may beclockwise rotated to the position shown in Figure 8, a position wherethe latchs balance will maintain t, pending elevation of the rod 2 bymeans of the handle 3.

After the latch 64% is moved to the position of Figure 8, the handle 4may be raised and counterclockwise rotated to the position illustratedin Figure 5, movement of said arm being effective through engagement atthe before-mentioned points 32 and 33 (Figure 4) to rotate the rod 2sufiiciently to throw the rotor lock lift lever l8 into the positionillustrated in Figure5, which is eiiective to unlock and throw theknuckle. Upon release of the handle 5 it may rotate clockwise back tothe position illustrated in Figure 6, where its unbalanced Weight may beeffective to urge it further in a clockwise direction but such movementwill be limited by the bearing at it (Figure 6) against the shoulder orledge 34 (Figre 9). At the time the handle 4 is seized to elevate therod 2 and rotate it into the position shown in Figure 5, the latch 54will be tripped from the position shown in Figure 8 and will ro tate ofits own weight to the position shown in Figure 5 where it may bear as at'52 against the adjacent edge of the flattened portion 62 of the rod Asthe handle 4 is released after knuckle throw or lockset, accomplished byrotation to the position of Figure 5, the parts may return to theposition shown in Figure 6 and the relative positions of the rod 2, asillustrated respectively in Figures 5 and 6, are well shown in Figure 7,wh rein it clearly appears that the flattened portion 52 is in suchposition in both cases that it cannot slip downwardly into the slot 6!With the parts in this position, of course, locking cannot be effectedsince the rod. is prevented from entering the locking notch 60 by itsbearing as at is and J6 (Figure 6) against opposite portions on therotor lever 18.

If the knuckle is rotated from knuckle throw position to closedposition, permitting the lock in the coupler to fall, the rotor lever l8will be permitted to rotate further in a clockwise direction and the rod2 and the handle 4 will similarly rotate, permitting the flattenedportion 62 of the rod 2 to enter the locking notch 50, whereupon thelatch. 534 will close over the flattened portion 62, thus returning theparts to the locked position illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

It will thus be seen that in my novel arrangement, unlocking the couplerbecomes impossible unless the latch 54 is manually rotated and then theouter end of the uncoupling rod seized for raisin the flattened portionof the rod 2 out of the locking notch 60 into the circular portion ofthe o ening 58, after which the coupler may be lockset or the knucklethrown, as desired. When the knuckle is in open position for couplingand the lock is in raised position, resting on top of the knuckle, orwhen the coupler is lockset, the rotor lever l8 cannot be returned toits lowermost position but the handle 4 which is pivoted for limitedrotation within the locking cap 6, as already described, may drop backpart way to the position illustrated in Figure 6, as already described,and thereafter with the closing of the knuckle the lock and the leverdrop to the closed position, while at the same time the rod 2 comletesthe rotation, dropping into the locking slotas shown in Figure 8.

In my novel arrangement, the uncoupling rod 2', may be disconnectedfrom. the rotor lever; IS without disengaging the rod 2' from thebracket 8.; This may be accomplished by disconnecting the rotor leverfrom. the lock, lifter at 20 and rotating the lever in a backwarddirection until it may bedisengaged from the coupler trunnion at. 22,the bracket 8 being so constructed as to permit the handle 4: sufficientclockwise rotation for that purpose. The flattened portion 62 of therod. 2,between the trunnion 32 and. the main body thereof, is of suchlength as to accommodate such lateral. angling of the coupler head asmay, be required within. standard limits.

It will thus be observed that my novel operating rod structure is suchas to afford positive positioning of the parts thereof under lockedconditions in such relationship with the parts of the coupler aspositively to prevent accidental unlocking movements thereof.

Although I have shown my novel device as arranged. for connection to therotor lock liftlever of the present Standard E coupler, it will readilybe understood that; the arrangement is equally applicable to other typesof rotor operated couplers;

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exactembodiment of the device shown; which is merely by way of illustrationand not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, ofcourse, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A coupler operating arrangement for a rotary actuated coupler mountedon a car body, comprising a rod having an end connected to therotor ofsaid coupler for actuation thereof, means on said rod adiacentsaid rotoreffective substantially to prevent relative rotative movement of saidrotor with respect to said rod, both said rod and said rotor beingrotatable only when-said rod-is free to rotate, and a bracket on saidcar body having an orifice receiving the opposite end of said rod forsupport thereof, said rod having a noncircular section positionableagainst rotation in a complementary portion of said orifice and, movableto an enlarged portion of said orifice for rotation therewithin, saidrod having outwardly of said bracket a handle mounted for limitedrotation thereon, said handle being operable for rotation of said rod inthe direction for unlocking and lockset of said coupler, said limitedrotation permitting said handle toreturn toward a vertical positionafter such operation but being efiective to restrain such last-mentionedmovement of said handle before it reaches normal rest position, wherebythe weight of said handle is effective to urge said rod in the reversedirection for locking said lock, locking of said lock permitting suchfurther rotation of said rotor and said rod as will permit said rod andsaid handle to come to rest in normal locked position with saidnoncircular section of said rod secured in said complementary portion.

2. A coupler operating arrangement for a rotary actuated coupler mountedon a car body, comprising a rod having anend connected to the'rotor ofsaid coupler for actuation thereof,

means on said rod adjacent said rotor effective 7 substantiallytoprevent relative rotative movement of said rotor with respect to saidrod, both said rod and said rotor being rotatable only when said rod isfree to rotate, and a bracket on said car body having an orificereceiving the oppositevend 0t said rod; for selective support thereof,said rod having a noncircular section positionable against rotation inacomplementary portion of said orifice and movable to an en-- largedportion of said orifice for rotation there-- within, bracket a handlemounted for limited rotation thereon, said handle being operable forrotation of saidrodin the direction for unlocking and lockset of saidcoupler, said limited rotation permitting said handle to return toward avertical position after such operation but being effectivetorestrainsuchlast-mentioned movement of said handle before itreachesnormal rest position, whereby: the weight of said handle is effectiveto; urge said rod. in the direction for locking said lock.

3-. In an operating arrangementfor a rotary operated coupler mounted ona car body, a rod having a loop. end connected to the rotor of saidcoupler, means on said rod adjacent said rotor operative to limitrelative rotation of said rod and, rotor in both directions so that saidrotor may have rotative movement only when said rod rotates, a bracketon said car body having an aperture receiving the opposite end of saidrod, said opposite end having a noncircular section slidabl'y andnonrotatably receivable within a portion of said aperture, said aperturehaving an upper enlarged part into which said noncircular section may beelevated for rotation,-and gravity-operated latch means associated withsaid bracket for normally maintaining said rod within said portion.

4. Inan operating arrangement for a rotary operated coupler mounted on acar body, a rod having a loop. end connected to the rotor of saidcoupler, means on said rod adjacent said rotor operative to limitrelative rotation of said rod and rotor so that said rotor may haverotative movement with said rod when the latter rotates, and a bracketon said car body having an aperture receiving the opposite end of saidrod, said opposite endhaving a noncircular section slidably andnonrotatably receivable within a portion of said aperture, said aperturehaving an upper enlarged portion into which said noncircular section maybe elevated for rotation, said rod having a trunnion portion outwardlyof said bracket, a handle-mounted on said trunnion portion, and meanssecuring said handle on said trunnion and operable ,to limit relativerotation of said handle and rod, said limited rotation of said handlewith respect to said rod restraining said handle from returning tonormal rest position after rotation of said rod in the direction forunlocking said coupler so that the weight of said handle is operative tourge said rod in the reverse direction after such rotation.

5. In an operating arrangement for a rotary operated coupler mounted ona car body, a rod having a loop end connected to the rotor of saidcoupler, interengaging means on said rod and said rotor operative tolimit relative rotation of said rod and rotor in both directions so thatsaid rotor may rotate only with said rod, and a bracket on said car bodyhaving an aperture receiving the opposite end of said rod, said oppositeend having a noncircular section slidably and nonrotatably receivablewithin a portion of said aperture, said aperture having an upperenlarged portion into which said noncircular section may be elevated forrotation.

6. In an operating arrangement for a rotary coupler supported on a carbody, a rod having said rod having outwardly of said.

an end connected to the rotor of said coupler, said rod having means inoperative engagement with said rotor to limit relative rotation betweensaid rod and rotor in either direction to an amount sufficient toaccommodate normal vertical and lateral angling of said coupler, and abracket on said car having an opening receiving the opposite end of saidrod for support thereof, said rod having a noncircular sectionnonrotatably received in a portion of said opening, said opening havingan enlarged portion to which said noncircular section may be shifted forrotation, thus permitting rotation of said rod and correspondingrotation of said rotor.

7. In an operating arrangement for a rotary coupler supported on a carbody, a rod having an end connected to the rotor of said coupler, saidrod having means in operative engagement with said rotor to limitrelative rotation of said rod and rotor in both directions to an amount1 sufficient to accommodate vertical and lateral angling movements ofsaid coupler, said rod and said rotor thus being rotatable as a unitwhen said rod is free to rotate, and a bracket on said car having anopening receiving the opposite end substantially limiting relativerotation of said rod and said rotor to an amount sufiicient toaccommodate normal vertical and lateral angling movements of saidcoupler so that said rotor may rotate only when said rod is free torotate, and a bracket on said car body having an opening with circularand noncircular portions selectively receiving an opposite end of saidrod for rotatable and nonrotatable support thereof, said rod beingslidable in said bracket in either position to accommodate said lateralangling movements.

9. An operating arrangement for a coupler mounted on a car body,comprising an operating rod having an end attached to the rotaryoperating lever of said coupler and engaging said lever at a pluralityof points substantially limiting relative rotation between said rod andsaid lever to an amount sufiicient to accommodate normal vertical andlateral angling movements of said coupler, and a bracket on said carbody supporting the opposite end of said rod, said bracket having akeyholelike opening with an upper circular portion and a sloteccentrically positioned therebelow, said rod having a flattened portionreceivable within said circular portion upon elevation thereinto so thatsaid rotor may rotate only when said rod is free to rotate.

10. An operating arrangement for a coupler mounted on a car body,comprising a rod having an end attached to the rotor of said coupler andengaging said rotor at a plurality of points so that said rotor mayrotate only when said rod is free to rotate, a bracket on said car bodysupporting the opposite end of said rod in'a plurality of selectivepositions for rotation and nonrotation thereof, and a handle on said rodhaving limited rotation with respect thereto, said handle beingoperative to urge said rod toward inoperative position after normalrotation thereof in unlocking said coupler.

11. In an operating mechanism for a rotor coupler mounted on a car body,an operating rod having an eye end connected to said rotor, a pluralityof interengaging means on said end and said rotor substantially limitingrelative rotation between said rod and said lever to an amountsufiicient to accommodate normal vertical and lateral angling movementsof said coupler, and means on said car body selectively supporting theopposite end of said rod for rotation and nonrotation.

12. In an operating mechanism for a rotor coupler mounted on a car body,an operating rod having an eye end secured to said rotor, a plurality ofmeans on said eye end engaging said rotor at spaced points to preventrelative rotation therebetween, means on said car body selectivelysupporting the opposite end of said rod for rotation and nonrotation,and means permitting lateral motion of said coupler and said rod withrespect to said car body when said rod is in rotatable position.

13. In an operating mechanism for a rotor coupler mounted on a car body,an operating rod having an eye end secured to said rotor, a plurality ofmeans on said eye end engaging said rotor at spaced points to preventrelative rotation therebetween, means on said car body selectivelysupporting the opposite end of said rod for rotation and nonrotation,and means permitting lateral motion of said coupler and said rod withrespect to said car body when said rod is in nonrotatable position.

14. In an operating mechanism for a rotor coupler on a car body, anoperating rod having an eye end secured to said rotor, means on said eyeengaging said rotor at spaced points to substantially prevent relativerotation therebetween, means on said car body selectively supporting theopposite end of said rod for rotation and nonrotation, and meanspermitting lateral motion of said coupler and said rod with respect tosaid car body when said rod is in rotatable position and when said rodis in nonrotatable position.

15. In an operating mechanism for a rotor coupler mounted on a car body,an operating rod having an end portion secured to said rotor andpresenting a plurality of means engageable with said rotor at spacedpoints to prevent rela tive rotation between said rod and rotor, meanson said car body selectively supporting the opposite end of said rod forrotation and nonrotation, and a handle on said rod having limitedrelative rotational movement with respect thereto, said handle beingoperative to urge said rod from rotatable position to nonrotatableposition after actuation of said rotor by said rod.

EDMUND P. KINNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 561,150 Whipple June 2, 1896561,843 Willison June 9, 1896 613,715 Pope Nov. 8, 1898 717,665 Fabianet a1. Jan. 6, 1903 767,001 Mann Aug. 9, 1904 1,840,165 Kelso Jan. 5,1932 2,000,987 Richards May 14, 1935

